"The Ohio Auto and Truck Recyclers Association, representing hundreds of independent automobile recyclers throughout the state of Ohio, speaks with one voice when expressing grave concerns about Senate Bill 273.

"This legislation would significantly weaken the legal structure governing the sale and purchase of salvage vehicles and would allow individual buyers to enter the salvage market here. These individuals do not bear the same responsibilities of our industry, such as ensuring badly damaged cars are not returned to the highway; properly reusing or disposing of the potentially contaminating fluids inside a salvage car; and recycling overly 95 percent of these cars, thereby protecting our environment and helping our economy.

"Loosening these laws serves only to create new avenues that can be exploited by car thieves. Organized criminals are known to seek salvage cars to match up with stolen cars so they can swap VIN numbers in order to re-establish clean title. The rules currently in place, which require licensed salvage operators to be the purchasers of these cars at auction, greatly reduce the opportunities for fraud and theft in the car market.

"Perhaps most importantly, loosening these laws will damage our fragile Ohio job market. Out-of-state buyers will take business away from Ohio and will reduce the number of vehicles we can recycle. Many of our local recyclers have been greatly tested in the economic downturn of the last few years. The negative impact of SB 273 cannot be overstated. We will lose many jobs and businesses if this bill is passed.

"We urge the members of the House Insurance Committee to keep Ohio jobs as their first priority and oppose Senate Bill 273."

Senate Bill 273 is scheduled for hearing by the Ohio House Insurance Committee on Wednesday, November 14.